Kenyan opposition leaders tear-gassed in protest

Kenyan police fired tear gas on opposition leaders and supporters marching on the electoral commission in Nairobi, the capital, yesterday. The opposition is demanding the commission be dissolved.

Riot police surrounded the offices of Kenya’s electoral commission in central Nairobi, blocking opposition leaders and supporters from approaching the building. When the opposition groups and their members tried pressing forward, police moved in and tear-gassed the crowd. Running battles ensued along a busy highway in the capital for half an hour.

Among those tear-gassed was former prime minister, Raila Odinga. Opposition parties are demanding electoral commission members leave office before the next general election in 2017.

The politicians accuse the commission of favoring the ruling Jubilee alliance in the last election, and undercounting signatures calling for a referendum on proposed land and electoral reforms.